Only Provence property can offer such a heady mix of possibilities – and so many days of guaranteed sunshine. So whether you’re looking for a traditional stone farmhouse or mas in a Provençal village, a low-maintenance flat in a busy resort or a sumptuous villa in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, you are guaranteed healthy capital growth and unrivalled year-round rental income.

Var property is superbly situated between the mountains and the sea and is set amongst vineyards, olive groves and fields of lavender and sunflowers. Property in and around Draguinon and Brignoles comes with all the amenities of a large town while Le Muy provides a more intimate Provençal atmosphere. St-Maximin property is highly desirable as it sits near the A8 motorway between Aix-en-Provence and the Côte d'Azur and is only an hour’s drive from Marseille and coastal resorts.

The most expensive Var property is in the coastal resorts of St-Tropez, St-Maxime, Frejus and St-Raphael (see Côte d'Azur Property). Near the capital Toulon, Hyeres property is highly sought after as this fortified town sits between the Maures hills and the Mediterranean and has superb Blue Flag beaches. Other notable locations are beautiful Bargème (the highest village in the Var) and the Venice-like town of Port-Grimaud. Some of the best value Var property can be found in the north around Tavernes and Aups near the tourist hotspots of Lac de St-Croix and the Gorges du Verdon.

The Vaucluse – and in particular the Luberon in the south – is an enchanting location perfumed with the scents of thyme, rosemary and pine. Vaucluse property is expensive but becomes cheaper in the north near Bollène (handy for the A7 motorway) and in the Mont Ventoux area around Vaison and Sault.

The Luberon stretches from Cavaillon in the west to Mirebeau and Manosque in the east, it includes the Plateau de Vaucluse north of Apt and the Montagne de Luberon to the south. This is superb hiking and cycling territory and Luberon property in quaint villages such as Vénasque, Gordes, Roussillon and St-Saturnin-lès-Apt commands high rental income.

Vaucluse property in the historic cities of Avignon and Orange will combine summer rental potential with the possibility of long-term lets. Property in L’Isle sur la Sorgue – a Mecca for antiques hunters – is perfect for niche rentals, while property around Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacquyras could target afficionados of fine southern Rhône wines.

The Bouches du Rhône department boasts several areas of outstanding natural beauty from the fjord-like Calanques between Marseille and Cassis to the Camargue, famous for its wild white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos.

Very rarely can the man-made compete with such spectacular landscapes – but the honey-coloured ‘city of a thousand fountains’ - Aix-en-Provence - is just such a triumph. Aix-en-Provence property is predictably expensive as this is widely regarded as the most beautiful city in southern France and development is severely restricted. Only an hour from Marseille airport and from the beach at Cassis, Aix has outstanding year-round rental potential, both from French and international clients. The large student population fuels the studio rentals market.

Property in St-Rémy-de-Provence and the perched village of Venelles are equally recherché, but rural property around St-Victoire – so beloved of Cézanne – is cheaper. The medieval city of Arles has great tourist pull for its Roman arena and for its proximity to the Pont du Gard aqueduct.

Marseille property is an increasingly wise investment as this cosmopolitan melting-pot is currently being regenerated in a way that befits France’s second largest city. The ‘Gateway to Europe’ is now only three hours from Paris by TGV and more and more Parisians are choosing to spend their weekends and holidays here. Modest Marseille property can meet the needs of students in the academic year and holiday-makers in the summer months. West of Marseille, Ensuès-la-Redonne is sought after for its sandy bays and panoramic sea views while to the east, Cassis property has a location – and beach – to die for.

In the Hautes-Alpes, Briançon, Europe’s highest town, gives access to the Serre Chevalier group of ski resorts with 250 kilometres of runs and 77 ski lifts. Serre Chevalier property is a wise investment as €40million has recently been spent on lift and resort improvements. Chantemerle property enjoys an attractive location near the ski lifts - as does property in the purpose built (yet cobbled) resort of Villeneuve. The charming Savoyard village of Le Monêtier-les-Bains is farther away from Briançon along the twisty N91 but the slopes here are less crowded and there are more challenging red and black runs. Serre Chevalier property has the potential for four months of rentals in winter and three months in summer.

Property in the Pays du Buech around Serres is a superb base for all kinds of outdoor activities. Alongside excellent walking, cycling, horse-riding, kayaking, swimming and fishing, the ski slopes of Superdévoluy are just an hour away. The cliff face at Orpierre is a Mecca for climbers and Chabre is France’s top hang-gliding venue and hosts the 2009 World Championships.

Capital of Hautes-Alpes, Gap is the largest town in the southern Alps and good for long-term rentals. The town’s proximity to ‘Les Ecrins’ National Park and the Serre-Poncon Lake make Gap property a good base for exploring the area.

The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department is the meeting point of fields of lavender and sunflowers in the south and the peaks of the north. This is the great outdoors on a grandiose scale with a total of 500,000 hectares of protected natural beauty including the magnificent Gorges de Verdon which border the Var. Being inland, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence property is cheaper than coastal Provence and properties requiring renovation can still be found at affordable prices.